Russell Brain, 1st Baron Brain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Brain
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Brain in 1956
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| Born |
Walter Russell Brain
23 October 1895 |
| Died | 29 December 1966 (aged 71) |
| Alma mater | New College, Oxford |
| Known for | Brain's reflex |
| Awards | Fellow of the Royal Society |
| Scientific career | |
| Institutions | University of Oxford |
Walter Russell Brain, 1st Baron Brain (born October 23, 1895 – died December 29, 1966) was a very important British doctor. He specialized in the brain and nervous system, which is called neurology.
He wrote a famous book called Brain's Diseases of the Nervous System. This book became a standard guide for other neurologists. He also worked for a long time as the editor of a medical magazine about the brain, called Brain. There is even a special body reaction named after him, called "Brain's reflex". This reflex happens when people get into a position like an animal on all fours.
Contents
A Doctor's Journey: Walter Brain's Career
Walter Brain went to Mill Hill School and then New College, Oxford. He first studied history, but he didn't enjoy it much.
Helping During Wartime
When the First World War started in 1914, Walter joined the Friends' Ambulance Unit in 1915. This group helped injured people during the war. He worked in an X-ray department at a hospital in London. Because his work was so important, he was allowed to keep helping people instead of fighting in the war. This was because he was a conscientious objector, meaning he chose not to fight for moral reasons.
Becoming a Neurologist
After the war, he went back to Oxford to study medicine. He became a doctor in 1922 and got a higher medical degree in 1925. He chose to focus on neurology, which is the study of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves.
Besides helping patients, he was part of many government groups. These groups worked on improving physical and mental health for everyone. He even helped care for the famous British leader Winston Churchill when he was very old in 1965.
Honors and Awards
In 1931, he became a special member of the Royal College of Physicians. He later became the president of this important college from 1950 to 1956.
He received many honors for his work. In 1952, he was made a knight. In 1954, he became a baronet. Then, in 1962, he was given the title Baron Brain. This meant he became a member of the British nobility. In 1964, he was chosen as a fellow of the Royal Society, which is a very high honor for scientists.
In 1964, he gave an important speech called Science and Behaviour. In this speech, he talked about how humans are changing the planet. He also mentioned that people sometimes think about the world in old ways, even though science and technology are making big changes.
Walter Brain's Family Life
Walter Brain married Stella Langdon-Down. They had three children: two sons named Christopher (born 1926) and Michael (born 1928), and one daughter named Janet (born 1931). Janet later married another doctor, Leonard Arthur.
His oldest son, Christopher, became the 2nd Baron Brain after his father passed away. When Christopher died in 2014, his brother Michael became the 3rd Baron Brain.
His Religious Beliefs
In 1931, Walter Brain became a Quaker. Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs and focus on helping others. In 1944, he gave a special lecture called 'Man, society and religion'. In this talk, he emphasized how important it is for everyone to care about society and help those in need.
Images for kids
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The coronet of a British Baron
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The coat of arms for the Brain family
